Tree computer kiosk system and method
View Patent ↗A tree computer kiosk is provided that includes a tree-shaped housing having a trunk and at least one limb and limb stub, where the limb stub is configured to accommodate a display screen. The tree-shaped housing accommodates a computer system including a processor and at least one electronic component. A power supply provides power to the computer processor and other electronic components. The tree-shaped housing includes mounting and mechanisms for securing one or more speakers, cameras, and display screens.
1. A computer kiosk, comprising:
a tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) comprising a trunk ( 140 ), at least one limb ( 130 ) attached to said trunk ( 140 ), and at least one limb stub ( 160 ) attached to, and extending outwardly from, said trunk ( 140 ); wherein said at least one limb stub ( 160 ) comprises a limb stub access door ( 165 ) disposed within an outer wall of said at least one limb stub ( 160 );
a computer system ( 105 ) comprising a processor ( 170 ) wherein at least a portion of said computer system ( 105 ) is mounted within said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ); and
a first display screen ( 151 ), at least a portion of which is mounted within a first limb stub ( 160 ) of said at least one limb stub ( 160 ); wherein said first display screen ( 151 ) is in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ); and wherein said first limb stub ( 160 ) comprises a display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) through which at least a portion of said first display screen ( 151 ) is viewable; and wherein said first limb ( 130 ) comprises a display screen/tablet support ( 155 ) that supports said first display screen ( 151 ) in a human-viewable position within said first limb ( 130 ); and wherein said limb stub access door ( 165 ) is disposed near said first display screen ( 151 ) and is openable to provide access to the back of said first display screen ( 151 ) and to allow removal of and installation of said first display screen ( 151 ).
2. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second display screen ( 151 ), at least a portion of which mounted within a second limb stub ( 160 ) of said at least one limb stub ( 160 ), wherein said second display screen ( 151 ) is in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ), and wherein said second limb stub ( 160 ) comprises a second display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) through which at least a portion of said second display screen ( 151 ) is viewable.
3. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) comprises an exterior decorative skin ( 179 ); wherein said exterior decorative skin ( 179 ) is configured with a camouflaged orifice ( 124 ); said computer kiosk further comprising a camera system ( 180 ) in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ) and mounted within said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ); wherein said camera system ( 180 ) comprises a lens mounted at least partially behind said camouflaged orifice ( 124 ).
4. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) comprises an exterior decorative skin ( 179 ); wherein said exterior decorative skin ( 179 ) is configured with multiple camouflaged orifices ( 131 ); said computer kiosk further comprising audio speakers ( 112 ) in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ) and mounted behind said multiple camouflaged orifices ( 131 ).
5. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein: said first limb stub ( 160 ) further comprises a blunt end and a frame front piece ( 181 ) disposed at said blunt end; said frame front piece ( 181 ) comprises the centrally disposed display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) defining outer boundaries of a display screen/tablet hole through said frame front piece ( 181 ); said first display screen ( 151 ) is installable behind said frame front piece ( 181 ); and said first display screen ( 151 ) is disposed between said display screen/tablet support ( 155 ) and said frame front piece ( 181 ).
6. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein said first display screen ( 151 ) and said computer processor ( 170 ) are integrated into a tablet computer ( 150 ).
7. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , display screen/tablet support ( 155 ) comprises a resilient cushion ( 158 ) attached to an inner surface of said display screen/tablet support ( 155 ) upon which said first display screen ( 151 ), when installed, rests.
8. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein:
said display screen/tablet support ( 155 ) comprises a sliding tablet support ( 154 ) and an extension slide ( 153 );
said sliding tablet support ( 154 ) comprises a tablet support backing ( 157 );
said sliding tablet support ( 154 ) further comprises at least one perimeter stop/restraint ( 159 ) disposed along an outer portion of said display screen/tablet support backing ( 157 );
said display screen/tablet support backing ( 157 ) and sliding tablet support ( 154 ) together define a tablet seating area that, when said first display screen ( 151 ) is installed in said display screen/tablet seating area, allows a back of first display screen ( 151 ) to rest against said sliding tablet support ( 154 ) and at least one edge of said first display screen ( 151 ) to be restrained by said at least one perimeter stop/restraint ( 159 ); and
said extension slide ( 153 ) supports said display screen/tablet support backing ( 157 ) and sliding tablet support ( 154 ) to allow said display screen/tablet support backing ( 157 ) and sliding tablet support ( 154 ) to slide out of said at least one limb stub ( 160 ) to receive said first display screen ( 151 ) into said display screen/tablet seating area and to allow said display screen/tablet support backing ( 157 ) and sliding tablet support ( 154 ) to slide into said at least one limb stub ( 160 ) to allow said first display screen ( 151 ), when installed to be positioned within said display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) for viewing.
9. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein said at least one limb stub ( 160 ) further comprises a blunt end and a frame front piece ( 181 ) disposed at said blunt end; and wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) further comprises: an internal support structure ( 175 ) forming an internal framework; wherein said housing internal support structure ( 175 ) is shaped to form the frame structure of said at least one limb stub ( 160 ), is shaped to form a peripheral frame extending along at least a portion of a periphery of said blunt end; wherein said frame front piece ( 181 ) is supported by and attached to said housing internal support structure ( 175 ); and an external decorative skin ( 179 ) exterior of said internal support structure ( 175 ).
10. The computer kiosk of claim 9 , wherein said external decorative skin ( 179 ) is formed of a urethane material that imitates the appearance of natural bark.
11. The computer kiosk of claim 9 , wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) further comprises at least one camouflaged orifice ( 124 , 131 ) extending through said external decorative skin ( 179 ), wherein said camouflaged orifice imitates an attribute of natural bark in appearance.
12. The computer kiosk of claim 11 , further comprising a camera system ( 180 ) having a camera lens, said camera system in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ) and mounted within said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ), wherein said camouflaged orifice ( 131 ) comprises an artificial knothole ( 124 ) defined by edges ( 122 ) and said camera lens is disposed behind said artificial knothole ( 124 ).
13. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) further comprises:
an internal support structure ( 175 ) forming an internal framework;
an external decorative tree skin ( 179 ) exterior of said internal support structure ( 175 ); and
an openable access door ( 125 , 165 , 191 ) that provides access to the interior of said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ); wherein said openable access door comprises a door internal support structure and an external decorative door skin ( 161 ); wherein said door skin ( 161 ) correlates with said tree skin ( 179 ).
14. The computer kiosk of claim 1 , wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) further comprises:
an internal support structure ( 175 ) forming an internal framework;
multiple artificial leaves ( 127 );
an external decorative skin ( 179 ) exterior of said internal support structure ( 175 ); and
multiple limbs ( 130 ) each of which is fixedly attached to said internal support structure ( 175 ); wherein each of said multiple artificial leaves ( 127 ) is fixedly attached to one of said multiple limbs ( 130 ).
15. The computer kiosk of claim 14 , wherein said multiple artificial leaves ( 127 ) have an appearance of natural leaves.
16. The computer kiosk of claim 14 , wherein said multiple artificial leaves ( 127 ) comprise fanciful leaves.
17. A computer kiosk, comprising: a tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) comprising a trunk ( 140 ), at least one limb ( 130 ) attached to said trunk ( 140 ), at least one limb stub ( 160 ) attached to said trunk ( 140 ) and comprising a blunt end, an internal support structure ( 175 ) having an exterior and forming an internal framework, an external decorative skin ( 179 ) attached to said exterior of said internal support structure ( 175 ), and a frame front piece ( 181 ) disposed at said blunt end; wherein said frame front piece ( 181 ) comprises a centrally disposed display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) defining outer boundaries of a display screen/tablet hole through said frame front piece ( 181 ); wherein said internal support structure ( 175 ) and said frame front piece ( 181 ) are disposed within and covered by said external decorative skin ( 179 ); a computer system ( 105 ) including a processor ( 170 ), wherein at least a portion of said computer system ( 105 ) is mounted within and covered by said external decorative skin ( 179 ); a display screen ( 151 ), that when installed behind said frame front piece ( 181 ), is mounted within a first limb stub ( 160 ), is viewable through said frame front piece ( 181 ), and is in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ); and a display screen support ( 154 ) attached to said internal support structure ( 175 ) and positioned to support said display screen ( 151 ), when installed, in a location viewable through said display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ); wherein: said display screen support ( 155 ) comprises a sliding display screen support ( 154 ) and an extension slide ( 153 ); said sliding display screen support ( 154 ) comprises a display screen support backing ( 157 ); said sliding display screen support ( 154 ) further comprises at least one perimeter stop/restraint ( 159 ) disposed along an outer portion of said display screen support backing ( 157 ); said display screen support backing ( 157 ) and sliding display screen support ( 154 ) together define a display screen seating area that, when said display screen ( 151 ) is installed in said display screen seating area, allows a back of said display screen ( 151 ) to rest against said sliding display screen support ( 154 ) and at least one edge of said display screen ( 151 ) to be restrained by said at least one perimeter stop/restraint ( 159 ); and said extension slide ( 153 ) supports said display screen support backing ( 157 ) and sliding display screen support ( 154 ) to allow said display screen support backing ( 157 ) and sliding display screen support ( 154 ) to slide out of said first limb stub ( 160 ) to receive said display screen ( 151 ) into said display screen seating area and to allow said display screen support backing ( 157 ) and sliding display screen support ( 154 ) to slide into said first limb stub ( 160 ) to allow said display screen ( 151 ), when installed to be positioned within said display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) for viewing.
18. The computer kiosk of claim 17 , further comprising
at least one audio speaker ( 112 ) in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ) and mounted within said tree-shaped housing ( 101 );
at least one camouflaged orifice ( 124 ) that extends through said external decorative skin ( 179 ); and
an openable access door ( 125 ) that provides access to said audio speaker ( 112 ); wherein said audio speaker ( 112 ) is mounted behind a first one of said at least one camouflaged orifice ( 124 ).
19. A computer kiosk, comprising: a tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) comprising a trunk ( 140 ), at least one limb ( 130 ) attached to said trunk ( 140 ), at least one limb stub ( 160 ) attached to said trunk ( 140 ), an internal support structure ( 175 ) having an exterior and forming an internal framework, an external decorative skin ( 179 ) attached to said exterior of said internal support structure ( 175 ), and at least one camouflaged orifice ( 124 , 131 ) that extends through said external decorative skin ( 179 ); a computer system ( 105 ) including a processor ( 170 ), wherein at least a portion of said computer system ( 105 ) is mounted within said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ); a first display screen ( 151 ), at least a portion of which is removably mounted within a first limb stub ( 160 ) of said at least one limb stub ( 160 ), wherein said first display screen ( 151 ) is in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ), and wherein said first limb stub ( 160 ) comprises a display screen/tablet hole frame ( 152 ) through which at least a portion of said first display screen ( 151 ) is viewable; a display screen support attached to said internal support structure and positioned to support said first display screen in a location viewable through said display screen/tablet hole frame; a resilient cushion attached to an inner surface of said display screen support upon which said first display screen, when installed, rests; at least one audio speaker ( 112 ) in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ) and mounted within said at least one limb ( 130 ), wherein said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ) further comprises an openable access door ( 125 , 165 , 191 ) that provides access to said audio speaker ( 112 ) mounted within the interior of said tree-shaped housing ( 101 ); and wherein a first one of said at least one camouflaged orifice ( 124 , 131 ) is disposed within said at least one limb ( 130 ); and wherein said audio speaker ( 112 ) is mounted behind said first one of said at least one camouflaged orifice ( 124 , 131 ); a camera system ( 180 ) having a camera lens; said camera system in communication with said computer processor ( 170 ); and power wiring ( 198 ) configured to carry electrical power and at least partially disposed within said interior of said internal support structure ( 175 ).
20. The computer kiosk of claim 19 , wherein said first display screen ( 151 ) and said computer processor ( 170 ) are integrated into a tablet computer ( 150 ).